Roberto Manchini selected the final 26 men for the Euros on the deadline day of squad submission, June 1st. Initially he was called a provisional squad for the tournament. For the first time, there won't be a certain Gianluigi Buffon guarding the Azzurri net in a major tournament after his retirement from International football. A lot of other players get to play their first European Championship with Italy.
Italy UEFA Euro 2020 Squad :
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Marco Verratti (Paris)
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)
Italy are a pack of world-class players with extraordinary talents. The Azzurri are a stable unit so it is hard to spot one key player that will make the difference. From the defense, midfield to the attack, the blue shirt boasts some phenomenal names in world football. The standard and competitiveness of Serie A, the domestic league, has risen significantly in the past couple of seasons. As a case, there is an influx of quality in every sector of the pitch. There is no overburdening of players from Juventus or the Milan clubs because technical players from clubs like Sassuolo are also in the pack.
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Still, we can point out certain players in the squad who can be the main man behind proceedings. PSG's Marco Verratti and Inter's upbringing star, Nicolo Barella will be the one ruling Azzurri's midfield, supported by the ball passer Jorginho or the pillar Locatelli. Then there is the veteran duo of Bonucci and Chiellini in the defense with their experience helping Acerbi, Bastoni and Toloi to relish their opportunity to the fullest. The attack has also improved significantly.
Strength (Manager Manchini) :
Italy have all the right to think about winning the Euros having a brilliant manager at the helm. Roberto Manchini took charge of the Azurris back in 2018 when the nation's football was in disarray. Italy failed to qualify for the year's World Cup in Russia and a series of departures followed, including his predecessor Gian Piero Ventura and members of the Italian Football Federation. Manchini quickly changed the blunt passive play to a smooth balance between attack and defense.
The 56-year-old added more technical players to the team to cope with his strategy and added more firepower to the attack. But he remains stuck to the Italian identity of robust defense. The result? Qualifying to the Euro 2020 with a 100% record and second-best winning ratio of any Italian manager in the past decade.
Roberto Manchini hasn't stuck with one specific eleven of his choice, rotating according to the opposition he faces. This only shows the depth and value he is blessed with. It affects the player in a positive way as they develop mutual understanding quickly among them.
It shows another parameter in his coaching being a good man manager. Something he too lacked in his previous stints. The squad is also the best Italy have had for some years now. Experience and youth proving to be a critical factor in the upcoming Euros.
Weakness :
A team bathing with so many talents and having a great manager seem to be immune to mistakes. Italy have hardly put a foot wrong and conceded only twice in the last 12 games (including friendlies) albeit those coming against high-ranked opposition. It is not a problem but can be looked at to prevent distracting the winning mentality while facing such oppositions. After all, it is the European Championship where the most unconvincing situation is faced. Manchini tactics have been great but have shown signs in the past of worn-out slowly. It shouldn't be the case for Italy as this group of players have it all to reward the ex-Man City manager to lift an international title.
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